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Thursday, November 15, 2012

You can’t talk love songs and not include the incomparable,
and
irresistible No “ effing” Doubt. I’ve been a No Doubt fan for as long as I can
remember (along with half the globe), and this song reminds me of why I fell in
love with them in the first place.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

I don't know about you, but to me there is nothing like a good love song to get you all nostalgic and ridiculously happy. It's the kind of happy that reminds you of how it felt the first time you knew you were head over heels and helplessly falling. No matter the genera- pop, rock, indie, oldie, blues, R&B, neo-soul, whatev, whatevs- love songs take you back to a place where the warm and fuzzies are steadily flowing, and fills you with optimism that love springs eternal. Oh-me-oh-my do love songs make me want to sing out loud (as if I don't do that everyday in my car already).

I’m feeling rather cheesy, and love-o-licious
today. Maybe it’s because I’ve realized that with everything that I have going
on in my life on a daily basis, love is the most prominent factor in my ability
to “just keep swimming”- Or maybe it’s because it’s my (drumroll please)………ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!!
– either way I’m feeling the love today.

So, in honor of my 6th year of marriage
to the absolute love of my life, and to get all of you feeling the warm and
fuzzies, I figured I'd share our love songs (and since one is never enough, yes,
we have two) today, and post songs about love for the rest of the week.

First up is our official song (ironically titled
Love Song) covered by none other than Adele. I don’t really care for The Cure,
and didn’t love this song until I
heard 311’s version (which is the version that my hubby dedicated to me). This
version is much softer and I just love it so… here it is

Next is our unofficial (but just as significant)
second song Dig by Incubus. If you
listen closely to the lyrics you’ll understand why this song is so beautiful
and so perfect for all couples, no matter how many years you have under your
belt, or how many struggles you may face. It’s just rad, and I so us.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Happy Veterans Day to all our heroes both past and present,
still with us or not; today we honor and thank you.

Amongst the surplus of “Thank you for your service” acknowledgements
that your Veteran will receive today, there are also many organizations in your
area that offer free or discounted goodies as a way of honoring the hard work
and sacrifices of our Vets and their families. If you’re planning on going out
tonight for dinner, or may be interested in what deals may be available in your
area, I figured I’d pass along some of the freebies that I’ve found while web
surfing.

Happy Veterans Day to all, and to all a great night!

Restaurants with Veterans Day Free
Meals

Applebees
Free Meal
Applebees is offering a free signature entree on Sunday November 11th,
2012 at participating locations. Must presentvalidVeteran’s form of identification.

Arby’s
Free Roast Beef Sandwich
Arby’s largest franchisee is offering a free roast beef sandwich at their 280
Arby’s restaurants on Monday, November 12, 2012. This offer is valid only at
all participating Arby’s locations in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri,
Illinois and Colorado (Colorado Springs and Pueblo).

Bar Louie
Free Lunch or Dinner
Bar Louie is saluting veterans and active-duty on Sunday and Monday (November
11-12) this year with a free lunch or dinner, up to an $11 value.

California Pizza Kitchen
California Pizza Kitchen is honoring Veterans and Military personnel by
inviting them in to dine for free on November 11 (Veterans Day) and November
12. Enjoy an pizza and a non-alcoholic beverage for free. Dine-in only. Please
come in uniform or bring your military ID or other proof of service.

Famous Dave’s Free or
Discounted Meal
On November 11th, 2012 Famous Dave’s is providing a variety of free meals and
discounts at participating locations to former and current military personnel.
Offers vary by location.

Green
Turtle Free Meal
All of the casual dining restaurant/sports bar chains’ locations across
Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and Washington, D.C., willfree offermeal items on Sunday November 11 from 4 – 9 PM. This is offer is
for current and former service members.

Golden Corral Free Meal
Get a Veterans Day free meal to any veteran who has served in the United States
military or is a current active duty service member. All Golden Corral
locations will be participating On Monday, November 12, 2012 from 4 PM to 9 PM.
No identification is required to get your free Veterans day meal.

Hooters 10 Free Boneless Wings
On Sunday November 11th, 2012 receive 10 free boneless wings with the purchase
of a drink for all veterans and active duty military. Military ID or proof of
service required.

Max &
Erma’s Free Cheeseburger Combo Meal with Dessert
On Veterans Day, Sunday, November 11, 2012, participating Max & Erma’s
locations are celebrating veterans and active military personnel with a free
cup of Tortilla Soup or side Caesar Salad, a Cheeseburger, seasoned fries and a
chocolate chip cookie.McCormick
and Schmick’s Free Entree
Enjoy a complimentary entree Sunday, Nov. 11. All veterans must show official
verification. Veterans Day entrees must be enjoyed at the restaurant. No to-go
orders permitted.

Olive Garden Free Meal
On Sunday, November 11, 2012 all veterans and military active duty will receive
a choice of 1 of 5 entrees plus unlimited soup, salad and breadsticks.

On The
Border Free Entree
On 11/11/12 15% of purchases will be donated to Carry The Load plus veterans
and active-duty will receive a free entrée certificate, valid up to $10 and
good through 11/30/2012.

Outback Steakhouse Free
Bloomin’ Onion® and Coca-Cola®
On November 11th and 12th, 2012 military personnel and veterans get FREE
Bloomin’ Onion® and Coca-Cola®. Must have valid identification. Also, receive 10%
off the entire guest check (excluding alcohol, taxes and gratuity) from
November 13- December 31, 2012.

Red
Lobster
Sunday, November 11, 2012 a free appetizer to all veterans and active-duty
personnel.

Sizzler Free Lunch
Monday, November 12, 2012 through 4 PM Veterans and active duty military will
receive a free lunch from a select menu. Valid ID required or in uniform or
photo in uniform.

Soup Plantation Free Meal with
Purchase
Past and present military can receive a free meal this Sunday and Monday,
November 11 and 12th with the purchase of another regular priced meal. Just
show proof of military service or be in uniform.

Sweet Tomatoes Free Meal Free
Meal with Purchase
Past and present military can receive a free meal this Sunday and Monday,
November 11 and 12th with the purchase of another regular priced meal. Just
show proof of military service or be in uniform.

Texas Corral Free Entree
A free entrée on Veterans Day to vets and active duty. Unofficially we believe
it’s Sunday but their website just says Veterans Day. Call ahead to confirm.

Travel
Centers of America Free Meal
All CDL drivers who are Military Veterans eat free on November 11th, 2012. Up
to $15 on a complimentary meal of your choice Must present valid ID or
photograph in uniform.

Twin
Peaks Free Meal
Twins Peaks provides vague information and it doesn’t look like it includes
Veterans. Here are their event details. “For Serving Us, We’re Serving You!
Service men and women eat free on Veteran’s Day.” Starts on Thursday, November
8 through Sunday, November 11. We are working on clarifying this information.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Ok,
so I’ve been a bad blogger lately. Yes, I’ve received your many, many emails
requesting to know just where the bleep I’ve been all this time- many of which
have amused me with extremely funny takes on what you think may be keeping me
from blogging, and many that just fed the delusion of the monster that is my
alter ego, forcing me to truly believe in the legends of my awesomeness.

First,
let me address the rumors; no, I wasn’t abducted by aliens from planet Letssnatchabitch,
and housed by aliens that zapped away my ability to write. However, at times
over the past few months, I almost believed this was true. No, I haven’t moved
to an exotic island, living a life of leisure drinking fruity mixed drinks with
cute decorative umbrellas in them- cheese and crackers do I wish that one was
true though. No, I didn’t die of a cheesecake-binge induced coma after an
afternoon of cheating on my vegan diet (however, we don’t know what the future
has in store- this vegan thing is still hard).

So…what
have I been up to? I’ve been spending time finishing a 6 year long work-in-progress
(almost done!!), working like a mad woman, taking care of the hubby,
maintaining my title of world’s greatest mom, and indulging in a surplus of
amazing upon amazing indie films. As I’m sure all my fellow indie lovers out
there know, tis the season (fall and winter) of the Indie, and trust me when I
say so far this season has not disappointed. I have seen SO many remarkably
fantastic indies over the past two months that I swear I am in complete
overload. I knew I couldn’t wait another second to share my picks of
the best indies of 2012, and encourage all that I can to take the time to run
to your nearest limited release theater to see them.

This one isn't in theaters any more so it should be relatively easy to find/buy/borrow from a friend. It's so incredibly funny, unexpectedly warm and touching and simply put a great film all together. Little tidbit for all you pop-culture information hoarders, it was co-written by the same screenwriter behind Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist. its a definite must see and so worth it; you will love it and watch it over and over again.

If you were ever wondering what The Hangover would look like if it grew ovaries and shaved its legs, this is it. Holy hilarium...I don't think I've laughed so hard, or screamed so loud in my life. Please trust me when I say you are missing out if you don't see this film. If it's still out in theaters, take the time to find it and marvel in it.

I read this book last year and loved it- couldn't get enough of it was more like it- so much so, that I passed it to everyone I knew that I thought might enjoy it. When I found out they were turning it into a film (an indie at that!) I was determined to see it, and just knew I would love it. Well, I was kind of wrong- I didn't love it...I'm enamored by it! It was everything I expected it to be, hoped it to be, and more. I can't say enough about this film- it's just a must see.

So, I was in indie heaven during and after this film. It was fresh, funny, thoughtful, funny, incredibly witty and smart, and all around friggin good. I'm so buying this one when it becomes available a.s.a.p and passing it down to everyone I know; another must.

I just saw this over the weekend, and I just about died from an overdose of absolute indie perfection. Hoffman, Adams, and Phoenix were, in no better words, at their best and undeniably brilliant in their performance. I don't know what else to say...my delight in this film was inaudible- I was speechless and left marinating in this film for the entire weekend. More- much more- than a must see. It's really the film of the decade.

This film made me want to sick to my vegan diet in hopes of never EVER becoming ill and having to EVER be seen by another doctor for as long as I live. Seriously, this scared the shizzle-sticks right out of me. It was an amazing film, however, I so won't be taking any trips to the doctor until I run full background checks and see some type of proof of mental stability. Creeptastic!

Hit it was indeed! I loved how honest, uneasy, and yet so hopeful this film was. It had so much depth, humor, and realism to it without relying on the typical " I must be crazy to end up here" stigmas of therapy. It was so refreshing, and so spot-on; I loved it. I know anyone who has the chance to check it out will love it too.

This film was intense. If you are looking for suspense with a wicked bite, this is the film for you. I don't think in all my years of watching and adoring indies, that I have ever come across a film like this. This film was definitely a brave endeavor for the actors, writers, and director I would assume, but it came together fabulously. I definitely recommend it.

How could I ever pass up the opportunity to see a timeless story-retold- (and one of my favorite reads by the by) come to life on the big screen by way of indie? I would sooner give up cheesecake for good (and I'm sure you know by now that's not happening) before I missed this one. Of course its a tear-jerker, but it's SO good, and I know if you see it you will love it. See it, cry a little (tears won't kill you damn it), love it; just let it take your breath away. I absolutely say, with unrelenting conviction, it is a must see.

So that's what I've been up to as of late; I can't wait to catch my next round of indies. This is definitely why I love fall (and winter, yes I know I'm repeating myself). It's no better time to catch up with friends, head out to your local theater, and indulge in some Indie decadence. I'll catch you at the ticket booths everyone!

Sunday, August 19, 2012

It’s been a while since I shared a post of Indies I
feel are amazingly worth watching. I've been busy, and working a lot blah, blah; I’m happy to report that
this weekend I ended my relentlessly long Indie drought with a few irresistibly
witty and exceptionally funny films that I couldn’t wait to blog (and rave)
about. I know my Fan-tic (my attempt at a play on the word frantic) rants are quite
transparent when I find films that I absolutely love, however, once in a great
while I do happen to find films that drives love to entirely new heights of
euphoric Indie ecstasy. For me, that film is most definitely Tiny Furniture.

I’ve been meaning to watch Tiny Furniture for so long, I can’t even recall, but I could never
find it in theaters near me since it was a limited release. I mean, the film
was almost a ghost for so long I almost forgot about it; I’ve never had such a
hard time gaining access to an Indie that I was super stoked about checking
out. Then cometh the big uproar of praise for its director/writer/creator Lena
Dunham after her new T.V series Girls
(BTW I’m so addicted to this show, and if you haven’t caught an episode, you
are seriously missing out) won massive acclaim resulting in an Emmy nomination,
and poof! I was finally able to grab copies of the film everywhere I turned. I
can honestly say the wait was worth it. From the opening scene to the very
last, I laughed uncontrollably, I awed, I screamed from mortification
(seriously. You’ll understand when you see it), I laughed -this time louder
than before-again, and awed some more. It was so refreshing, so witty, so
honest, and so well done I can’t even stand it. Lena Dunham is a friggin' genius,
and speeding to the top of my favorite writers list.

Aura, a freshly graduated liberal arts major, is
having quite a difficult time trying to gain a sense of identity and figure out
what she wants out of life. Amidst her inner struggle, bruised by a failed
relationships, and feeling overwhelmed by her lack of direction, she decides to
move back to her family’s TriBeCa loft to allow herself time to figure things out.
She starts work as a hostess at a local restaurant where she then meets and
falls into what appears to be an accidental relationships with two obnoxiously self-absorbed
men; it soon becomes apparent to Aura that figuring out life is only half the
battle, compared to the larger charge of figuring out what she wants/needs from
herself.

I know that a lot of people might view this film as
whiny rich girls complaining about nothing, but I really enjoyed how realistic,
and completely exposed the characters are. Dunham didn't try to mask Aura's selfishness under the typical euphemisms of self discovery, she just simply allowed the
characters to be displayed as they would in reality; immaturity, longing, flaws
and all. The layers of this film are so rich,
and well done, and I really loved, loved, LOVED it. Thumbs up to Lena Dunham!

Thursday, August 16, 2012

If you
are looking for adventure, time to de-compress, or have a love of all things
outdoors, I think I may have found some info that you’ll really be interested
in. The program is called Higher Ground, and was emailed to me by our Caregiver
Support Coordinator.

Higher
Ground is basically an organization that offers weeklong therapeutic sports
camps for Veterans (and their spouses/caregivers/supporters) with
TBI/PTSD/Poly. Some of the outdoor adventures include: winter sports, fly
fishing, rafting, and paddle sports; but more than that, they offer an
opportunity to break away from our everyday struggles and connect with groups
of other Veterans and their spouses who are fighting the same battles that you
may be fighting. I’ve heard great things about it so far and have just
submitted our application.

The
best part in all this- ALL costs are covered for both the Veteran and their spouse,
and the camps are demographically oriented to the needs and location of the Vet
and spouse. Not to mention they also provide an additional three years of
follow up and activities openings, resources at home to cover any unmet needs,
and have a reintegration budget to provide goods and services needed to continue
a healthy recreation lifestyle. All in all, one hell of a program for qualifying
participants. If you or your warrior is interested and want to know more about the qualification requirements, check out their site and
apply here www.hgvets.org

Sunday, August 12, 2012

I’m not
sure if maybe my head has been in a fog for the past year and a half, but for
some reason I didn’t correlate my taking care of my husband while he struggles
through PTSD and TBI, to be being considered as caregiving. Sure, I’ve heard
myself and other women in my shoes be referred to as the caregiver , but somehow I just shrugged that title off as
simply a way to identify me in relation to him as a veteran. For some reason, I
just didn’t consider myself as a caregiver in a literal sense (please refer to the
above mentioned head in a fog). So as I’m sure you can imagine and to my utter surprise, when
finding out two months ago after yet another routine visit to the VA with the
hubby, that not only did the VA consider me (and other wives) as caregivers,
they also have special services in place to support us as caregivers, and
provide us with resources to elevate some of the day to day stressors we experience.

I think now is an appropriate time to say WOW!

Now I must admit, I haven’t
exactly had the best relationship with the VA- both the hubby and I have had
problems with our local VA in the past, which have recently been rectified-
however, this program in particular, as well as the caregiver support
coordinators who run it, have significantly helped to turn my impression of the
VA around. I applied to become the official caregiver of the hubby under the
Post-911 Veterans charter; a program/new law that will provide assistance to
primary family caregivers of eligible post-9/11 Veterans and Service members. Within
a couple of days I received a call from the support coordinator, and was
immediately placed in rotation to begin the review and evaluation process. The
entire process should take no longer than about 45 days (if you comply with the
deadlines), and is pretty simple to complete although it does require you completing (including certification) a caregivers course through Easter Seals.

Here
are just a few benefits that come with this program once you have been
approved:

Access
to health care insurance (if the Caregiver is not already entitled to care or
services under a health care plan)

Mental
health services and

counseling

Comprehensive
VA Caregiver training provided by Easter Seals

Respite
care

Monthly
stipend

In
addition to the great benefits allotted to caregivers, the support of the
program leaders, and endless supply of resources to me is worth its weight in
gold. If you or someone you know are interested in this program, contact your
local VA and ask if they have a Caregiver Support Coordinator. If you need
additional information, contact 1-877-222 VETS (8387) or visit VACaregivers to
find out who’s eligible.

About Me

Welcome to this blog! Our names are Ayana and Emily and we are wives of Combat Veterans. This blog is all about inspiration, sharing resources, and building a community for combat veteran wives, family members and more. Want to know more about us? Check out our " Meet you bloggers" tab.